The anchor of The O'Reilly Factor recounts one of the most dramatic stories in American history—how one gunshot changed the country forever. In the spring of 1865, the bloody saga of America's Civil War finally comes to an end after a series of increasingly harrowing battles. President Abraham Lincoln's generous terms for Robert E. Lee's surrender are devised to fulfill Lincoln's dream of healing a divided nation. But one man and his band of murderous accomplices are not appeased....

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Publisher's Summary

A riveting historical narrative of the heart-stopping events surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and the first work of history from mega best-selling author Bill O'Reilly.

The anchor of The O'Reilly Factor recounts one of the most dramatic stories in American history—how one gunshot changed the country forever. In the spring of 1865, the bloody saga of America's Civil War finally comes to an end after a series of increasingly harrowing battles. President Abraham Lincoln's generous terms for Robert E. Lee's surrender are devised to fulfill Lincoln's dream of healing a divided nation, with the former Confederates allowed to reintegrate into American society. But one man and his band of murderous accomplices, perhaps reaching into the highest ranks of the U.S. government, are not appeased.

In the midst of the patriotic celebrations in Washington, D.C., John Wilkes Booth—charismatic ladies' man and impenitent racist—murders Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. A furious manhunt ensues and Booth immediately becomes the country's most wanted fugitive. Lafayette C. Baker, a smart but shifty New York detective and former Union spy, unravels the string of clues leading to Booth, while federal forces track his accomplices. The thrilling chase ends in a fiery shootout and a series of court-ordered executions—including that of the first woman ever executed by the U.S. government, Mary Surratt.

Featuring some of history's most remarkable figures, vivid detail, and page-turning action, Killing Lincoln is history that reads like a thriller.

What the Critics Say

"As a history major, I wish my required reading had been as well written as this truly vivid and emotionally engaging account of Lincoln's assassination. And as a former combat infantry officer, I found myself running for cover at the Civil War battle scenes. This is the story of an American tragedy that changed the course of history. If you think you know this story, you don't until you’ve read Killing Lincoln. Add historian to Bill O’Reilly’s already impressive résumé." (Nelson DeMille, author of The Lion and The Gold Coast)

I learned some aspects about the Lincoln assassination which were previously unknow to me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Killing Lincoln?

The part I found most memorable was learning that Lincoln was supposed to have a bodyguard controlling egress to his booth at the Ford Theater and this duffus ended up taking off to indulge in some drinks at the bar next door. If he'd stayed at his post and resisted Booth's undeterred entrance to Lincoln's booth, the whole assassination attempt would have probably been foiled and the subsequent history would have taken a whole different path. That this clown went unpunished while all the southern conspirators ended up with a bullet through the throat or at the end of a rope (even Mary Surrott) makes one recognize that the idoicies of our current era are not necessarily any more ridiculous than the ones of 137 years ago.

What does Bill O'Reilly bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I've been a fan of Bill O'Reilly on Fox News'

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The fact that Linocln hung on as long as he did, and died the next day made his ultimate demise seem all the more moving.

Any additional comments?

Access to this audio book was a Christmas gift from my son. I've enjoyed having the opportunity to hear this particular book read by one of my favorite TV news commentators, so I want to thank my son for his generosity.

Surprisingly Bill O'Reilly's enthusiasm for his text. One got a sense of tragedy for all the characters that were involved in this extremely brutal and messy affair. Difficult to envisage the brutality of the world at this time without such biographies or to understand the primitive nature of both politics and medicine. These conspiracies continue but one really hopes we have more consideration for mankind (which involves both the good and the bad in this a story). Then there was Kennedy. They did a better detective job with Lincoln's Assassination than his.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Killing Lincoln?

The moment of assassination and the wind up of what happened to everyone.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Nothing. Maybe a bit journalistic but despite this he kept me enthralled by the evolving story - as a BRIT (in NZ) - much of which I did not know.

If you could sum up Killing Lincoln in three words, what would they be?

Suspenseful, action, interesting

This was an excellent book and it really did read as a thriller. I learned so much that I did not know. On the day of Lincoln's assassination, as I listened I could barely catch my breath. I thought, "This is crazy - I know exactly what happens?!?!?" but I couldn't help it - I was so entranced.

I am not much of a history buff, but am literally counting the moments until the "Killing Kennedy" book comes out. This was phenomenal.

O'Reilly's "Killing Kennedy" was really good. This book was enjoyable but not as good.

Unfortunately, O'Reilly became very annoying by using the word "cavalry" hundreds of times, but pronouncing it "calvary" every time. There were a few other quirks—like saying "century" when he meant "sentry" or mispronouncing "pandemonium"—but the confusion of Golgatha with a horse soldier happened every few seconds for the first two and a half hours of the book and became grating—like a person who says "nook-cyoo-ler" and then manages to use it in every sentence.

While it's important for students to learn to read and evaluate critical commentary, "Each reader has a right-and even a responsibility-to form his or her own opinions, based on that reader's reading and understanding of a piece of literature, and to be able to support those opinions with solid reasons"

I got this title in to get some background anticipation of watching the Day-Lewis movie. It was rather disappointing though, certainly in the earliest parts of the book where a great deal of time seems to be spent discussing closing battles of the Civil War which are of tangential relevance at best to the assassination. The author also seems to have had unique access to Wilkes Booth's unexpressed thoughts - we are frequently told what the assassin was thinking or feeling without any obvious source material. The actual story of the assassination is reasonably well told but I suspect that there are better books out there.

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